Senegalese-American singer, songwriter, and producer Aliaune Damala Bouga Thiam, widely known as ‘Akon’, lit up social media over the weekend after reports surfaced that his long-time wife, Tomeka Thiam, had filed for divorce bringing an end to their 29-year marriage.
According to court documents and multiple media reports, Tomeka is seeking an extravagant €100 million (approximately UGX 397 billion) as part of the divorce settlement.
She claims she played a pivotal role in building Akon’s empire from his early music success to his ventures in real estate and renewable energy through the Akon Lighting Africa initiative.
“I stood by Akon through all the cheating, the ache, and the pain; through every struggle. I deserve my share of what we built together,” Tomeka reportedly said in a recent interview.
However, the case took an unexpected turn when court filings allegedly revealed that the Smack That hitmaker has only $10,000 (UGX 34m) in his personal bank account.
Legal sources familiar with the case note that Tomeka’s legal team is pushing for full financial disclosure, arguing that Akon’s reported income and lifestyle do not match the modest sum found in his accounts.
The situation has drawn comparisons to previous celebrity cases. Footballer Achraf Hakimi famously shielded his fortune by having his assets registered under his mother’s name, which left his ex-wife, actress Hiba Abouk, unable to claim half his wealth during their divorce.
Similarly, Nigerian-New Zealand UFC star Israel Adesanya recently prevailed in a high-profile lawsuit against his ex-girlfriend Charlotte Powdrell, who demanded half his assets but was ultimately ordered by the court to pay him $500,000 instead — as all his holdings were reportedly under his mother’s management.
“29 years of marriage, and Akon’s wife allegedly wanted €100m in divorce settlement. Turns out he only had $10k in his name.When women protect themselves, it’s ‘self-love.’When men do the same, it’s ‘manipulation’The double standard is loud,” user @LadyVictoria21 on X posted.
“After 29 years of marriage, Akon’s wife, Tomeka Thiam, filed for divorce demanding €100M in compensation.But the court only found $10,000 in Akon’s account.Turns out… the money’s chilling safely in his mother’s name.And I want to remind you this is a good time to join @wallchain_xyz and Quack so has to make generational wealth like Akon,” user @Sodeindemueez posted on X.
Many social media users now speculate that Akon may have employed similar financial safeguards, intentionally or not, leaving his personal accounts nearly empty while a majority of his assets remains protected.
